Muxlow, T. W. B.T. W. B.MuxlowThomson, A. P.A. P.ThomsonRadcliffe, J. F.J. F.RadcliffeWrigley, N. H.N. H.WrigleyBeswick, R. J.R. J.BeswickSmail, IanIanSmailMcHardy, I. M.I. M.McHardyGarrington, S. T.S. T.GarringtonIvison, R. J.R. J.IvisonJarvis, M. J.M. J.JarvisPRANDONI, ISABELLAISABELLAPRANDONIBONDI, MARCOMARCOBONDIGUIDETTI, DARIADARIAGUIDETTIArgo, M. K.M. K.ArgoBacon, DavidDavidBaconBest, P. N.P. N.BestBiggs, A. D.A. D.BiggsChapman, S. C.S. C.ChapmanCoppin, K.K.CoppinChen, H.H.ChenGarratt, T. K.T. K.GarrattGarrett, M. A.M. A.GarrettIbar, E.E.IbarKneib, Jean-PaulJean-PaulKneibKnudsen, Kirsten K.Kirsten K.KnudsenKoopmans, L. V. E.L. V. E.KoopmansMorabito, L. K.L. K.MorabitoMurphy, E. J.E. J.MurphyNjeri, A.A.NjeriPearson, ChrisChrisPearsonPérez-Torres, M. A.M. A.Pérez-TorresRichards, A. M. S.A. M. S.RichardsRöttgering, H. J. A.H. J. A.RöttgeringSargent, M. T.M. T.SargentSerjeant, StephenStephenSerjeantSimpson, C.C.SimpsonSimpson, J. M.J. M.SimpsonSwinbank, A. M.A. M.SwinbankVarenius, E.E.VareniusVENTURI, TizianaTizianaVENTURI2022-02-252022-02-2520200035-8711http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/31488We present an overview and description of the e-MERGE Survey (e-MERLIN Galaxy Evolution Survey) Data Release 1 (DR1), a large program of high-resolution 1.5-GHz radio observations of the GOODS-N field comprising ∼140 h of observations with enhanced-Multi-Element Remotely Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) and ∼40 h with the Very Large Array (VLA). We combine the long baselines of e-MERLIN (providing high angular resolution) with the relatively closely packed antennas of the VLA (providing excellent surface brightness sensitivity) to produce a deep 1.5-GHz radio survey with the sensitivity ( ${\sim}1.5\, \mu$ Jy beam<SUP>-1</SUP>), angular resolution (0.2-0.7 arcsec) and field-of-view (∼15 × 15 arcmin<SUP>2</SUP>) to detect and spatially resolve star-forming galaxies and active galactic nucleus (AGN) at $z$ ≳ 1. The goal of e-MERGE is to provide new constraints on the deep, sub-arcsecond radio sky which will be surveyed by SKA1-mid. In this initial publication, we discuss our data analysis techniques, including steps taken to model in-beam source variability over an ∼20-yr baseline and the development of new point spread function/primary beam models to seamlessly merge e-MERLIN and VLA data in the uv plane. We present early science results, including measurements of the luminosities and/or linear sizes of ∼500 galaxies selected at 1.5 GHz. In combination with deep Hubble Space Telescope observations, we measure a mean radio-to-optical size ratio of r<SUB>e-MERGE</SUB>/r<SUB>HST</SUB> ∼ 1.02 ± 0.03, suggesting that in most high-redshift galaxies, the ∼GHz continuum emission traces the stellar light seen in optical imaging. This is the first in a series of papers that will explore the ∼kpc-scale radio properties of star-forming galaxies and AGN in the GOODS-N field observed by e-MERGE DR1.STAMPAen10.1093/mnras/staa12792-s2.0-85088266829https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/495/1/1188/5834556?login=truehttp://arxiv.org/abs/2005.02407v12020MNRAS.495.1188MFIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICAERC sectors::Physical Sciences and Engineering